A visit to Lincoln, Maine

Let’s begin by clearing up three things.

The town of Lincoln is not in the county of Lincoln, but rather in Penobscot County. It should not be confused with Lincolnville which is in Waldo County. Moreover, you should be aware that there IS another Lincoln, Maine. It’s a plantation with a population of 41 in the 2020 census. If you have any doubts, check the authority—your Maine Gazetteer (Map 18, block A1).

The town of Lincoln, Penobscot County, Maine was incorporated in 1829. While one might assume its namesake was President Abraham, he was, at that point, a mere 20 years old and without any titles. The town was actually named for Enoch Lincoln who—at the time of incorporation in January—was the governor of Maine. It’s a good thing the town didn’t procrastinate on officially becoming a town because Governor Lincoln died in October of that year. He was succeeded by Governor James Ripley. So the town of Lincoln might have been Ripley, except that there was already another Ripley, Maine (which was not even named after that governor, but a Brigadier General Ripley from the War of 1812. We’ll cover all this when it’s Ripley’s turn to be featured).

Thankfully the third point of clarification is not nearly as complicated as the two already covered. One often hears the adjective “stinkin” being attached to Lincoln. It is true that the town was rather odorous at points in its history, but such is no longer the case.

As you approach Main Street in Lincoln from Route 2, the gazebo will be in front of you. It is a beautiful spot overlooking Mattanawcook Pond. The placard describing its history makes it even more special:

“This site is where local pharmacist and former MA [the local high school Mattanawcook Academy] graduate Lee Rush bought a rundown property with a breathtaking view of the lake. His dream was not only to live in the house, but to restore it to its original grandeur. Lee’s dream was cut short in 1995 when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor which would lead to his passing in 1998, at the age of 28.

As a fitting testament to Lee’s life, his parents sold the site to the Town of Lincoln to erect a monument where everyone could enjoy the same scenery Lee loved to much — and perhaps, be inspired with dreams of their own.”

Lincoln has numerous sites which will hurt your heart. Another is the memorial to Master Sergeant Gary Gordon, a Lincoln man who died in Mogadishu, Somalia in October 1993. If you have seen the movie Black Hawk Down, you are likely familiar with this battle. Gordon and fellow soldier Sergeant First Class Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor — the first recipients since the Vietnam War.

The town has a long and extensive history of military service. Lincoln has done well in preserving their memories and sacrifices.

If you have been following this Maine Features journey to every town in the state (if you’re new, drop your email in the box at the bottom of any page on this site to stay updated), you will not be surprised to hear that this visit included a trip to the historical society. The time with Dennis & Bonnie Gray was fascinating and too short (another trip is needed).

One of the buildings the Lincoln Historical Society owns is the former Cobb House which was built in 1836. If you are in the area, this tour should be added to your list of things to do. The kitchen is amazing, and even more so when you learn that the fireplace (pictured below) was hidden by a wall for a hundred years. What a treasure to uncover!

As you move to the second level, you will climb what is known as a “Good morning staircase.” At the top, you will need to turn to the right or the left. If you spent the night, then in the morning you would have the opportunity to give morning greetings to the person in the room across from you, if you both headed downstairs at the same time.

Across the street from the society is the Little Red Schoolhouse (formerly the Webber Mill School). It is so charming that one almost wishes they could return to class (at least for a day).

In the research process for this town, I found a Lincoln industrial supplement in a 1924 Maine newspaper. Though lengthy, it is full of tidbits that history-loving readers might enjoy. And, so, it is included below. If you work in a service industry, you will find wise advice from this past generation of Lincoln business owners.

Lincoln, Maine in 1924

The following gives an overview of some of the businesses in Lincoln in the 1920s. These excerpts were copied from the extensive two-page “Lincoln Industrial Supplement” in the February 28, 1924 issue of the Old Town Enterprise. In most cases, the original spelling and punctuation were retained. 

• Lincoln Woolen Mills, Inc., “manufacturers of cloakings, overcoatings and worsteds is a good sized plant employing eighty-five operatives whose approximate weekly pay is two thousand dollars.”

• Gordon Silver Black Fox Farm, started in 1916. Pelts sold for up to three to four thousand dollars (each!) in the 1920s. “This is the largest industry of its kind in the United States and has the whole-hearted support of both the United States and Canada Departments of Agriculture. The…ranch is a matter of great interest to Summer visitors, thousands of visitors from the States and Canada coming here annually to see these beautiful animals.”

• “In addition to foot-wear Mr. [C. W.] Clay has for sale an excellent assortment of confectionery, a complete supply of school supplies and a first rate selection of books and magazines. Mr. Clay is always on hand to serve his patrons with the best of quality with alacrity and dispatch.

• Harry C. Winchenbach. “This is one of the best metal work shops in this section of Maine, equipped for handling all kinds of sheet metal work and has been built up in a very short space of time by a thorough knowledge of the business, prompt service and rates reasonably consistent with high class work.”

• H. I. Pickering’s bakery. “No need to worry when the unexpected guest arrives, for here you can buy the lightest and daintiest of cakes, and freshly baked, luscious pies...”

• Mitton’s Cash Grocery, Main Street. “The meat department deserves special mention for it is a model in sanitation. All meats are kept in a large glass refrigerators, (scrupulously clean) and handled by those who understand thoroughly the art of cutting. Here one will find heavy western beef, veal, native pork, and lamb and the buyer will find satisfaction in buying meats here being secure in the knowledge that all products are strictly fresh and where the choicest of cuts can be had for the asking. This store maintains a fine delivery service, a matter of no inconsiderable convenience to its numerous patrons…” 

• Morganna Mitton studies ways and means to bring the customer back by offering merchandise of standard value for the money and understands that well gotten up show windows give an appeal side to their merchandise and attractive windows are an especial feature of this store. Here can be found in wide variety the thousand and one things that are daily needed, personally, or for the home and all at reasonable prices...” 

• Solomon—Grindell Clothing Company. “The operators of this store are zealous to see that every department is kept in immaculate order, and fully equipped…”

• W. W. Steeves’ grocery. “It is a fine store fully stocked to meet the demands of the trade and the shelves replete with the best of canned goods in meats, vegetables and table luxuries of all kinds…”

• Ballantyne—Holmes Co. “This concern started business in 1906 as manufacturers and dealers in wagons, sleds and lumber. They also do wagon and sled repairing, and manufacture the parts composed of iron used in their sleds and wagons. Several men are employed here. Electricity is the motive power that drives the machinery, which is of the latest type…”

• “At Mr. [Alfred A.] Clay’s shop you will find a small but select stock of novelties in fine jewelry, watches, clocks, solid silver and plated ware but it is his efficiency in watch repairing that has gained him a most enviable reputation.”

• Lester S. Clark. “This flour, feed and grain business was recently taken over by Mr. Clark…the volume of business done here is considerable…here is an excellent opportunity for some enterprising person to take over a well established business…to those interested a letter addressed to Mr. Clark will bring full particulars.  

• “A fine stock is carried by Mr. W. A. Brown of Lincoln, expert jeweler, whose stock displays fine jewelry to the delight of those who are always looking for something in this line…”

• Casino Motor Company, authorized Ford sales and service station, “is a large two story structure with a capacity for one hundred cars. The first floor consists of the repair department and machine shop while the upstairs room is the show room and where the latest Ford models are on display. For the benefit of the traveling public it is planned to install a ladies rest room in the near future…”

• Lincoln Drug Store, Robert Lovely, proprietor. “An attractive display of toilet articles, rubber goods, the finest of perfumes and toilet waters, stationery make this store a leading headquarters for those seeking high grade goods in these lines…all prescriptions are filled by Mr. Lovely with the greatest accuracy, which assures the confidence of those who entrust them into his hands.”

• E. A. Weatherbee Company, The Winchester Store. “…deals in everything from the building to the furnishings of a home. Every necessary building material for any size job is for sales by this concern, while a wealth of fine furniture greets one in their various departments…It is easy to visualize the complete furnishing of your home at this store, where you can make each room beautiful, parlor, dining room, den and chamber, from the large assortment to choose from…”

• Globe Printing Company, W. T. Marston. “…expert work in Book and Commercial Printing…all work in these lines are given the most painstaking attention, and promptly attended to and delivered to the complete satisfaction of all patrons.”

• George A. Maynard “conducts a blacksmith and horse shoeing shop in Lincoln and in addition sells flour, hay, straw, feed, salt and shells.”

• “For thirty-five years Mr. [D. P.] Clay has been satisfactorily serving the people of Lincoln and vicinity as manufacturer and dealer in foreign and domestic marble, granite, monuments, vases, metallic wreaths, etc.”

• “A visit to the taxidermist shop of Mr. [W. J.] Clayton is to be remembered for a long time. He has excellent selection of specimens, some of which are very rare and all are mounted in a way that proves Mr. Clayton an artist of the first caliber in his particular line of art.”

• “Mr. [Artemus] Weatherbee places all kinds of insurance and the list of companies he represents include many of the largest and most responsible in this and foreign countries.”

• Lincoln Trust Co. “The officers and directors are all well known, successful business men who are giving conscientious effort towards making this [banking] institution one of the safest and most progressive in this section of Maine.” 

• “J. T. Crandell of Lincoln manufactures long and short lumber at his large mill situated on the bank of the Cold Stream lake.”

• Warren’s Service Market. “When Varnum C. Warren of Lincoln opened his market a year ago as a service market he meant just that. That here one would always be sure of the best service with the best goods on the market, and where one would always find the best of native pork, fowl, lamb and heavy western beef also light groceries and popular brands of bottled, canned and jar goods.”

• Eastern Manufacturing Co. This “mill in Lincoln was built originally for a soda pulp mill in 1881, rebuilt and started as a sulphite mill in 1889, incorporated as the Katahdin Pulp and Paper Co. and manufactured sulphite pulp only until 1910 when the paper mill was built. This mill continued to operate as the Katahdin Pulp and Paper Co. until the Fall of 1914 when it was merged with the Eastern Manufacturing Company…This mill employs about two hundred and fifty employees except during the summer time when pulp wood handling and river work is in progress when the number runs up as high as three hundred and fifty.”

• “About five years ago Bessie Smith established the store in Lincoln which almost over night became one of the most popular congregating centers for the women folks that there is in Lincoln…whether you are a customer or not you will be welcomed here with the same degree of cordiality as ones best customer might reasonably expect.”

• Osborn Garage. “Automobile accessories of all kinds are carried here, gasoline and the best of oils and greases. There is a machine shop in connection with the garage, a matter of great convenience to the impatient motorist when it is found necessary to re-make the broken part.”

• “The Lincoln House has a splendid reputation both at home and abroad as being one of the best hotels in Maine…everything is done for the comfort of the guests and a genial welcome extended which is reflected in the open fire place and roomy lobby, and one feels at home at once on entering the door. The forty rooms are well furnished, light and airy and have running water in every room. These are immaculately kept, furnished in good taste with comfortable beds and attractive bedding. The dining room presents an air of cleanliness and refinement and has a seating capacity for seventy-five people. The best of daily menus combined with service in the products of their cuisine which come attractively arranged on the heaped up trays make eating here a real pleasure.”